Kicks For Free was a most impressive winner of the intercasino.co.uk Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Paul Nicholls' charge produced a careful round of jumping but from the turn for home, it was clear the 4/6 favourite was travelling all over his rivals.

Ruby Walsh took him to the front approaching the second last and the seven-year-old sauntered clear of chief serious rival Coq Hardi (8/1).

Special Envoy tired badly having jumped fluently through most of the race.

The winner received a 16/1 quote from Sky Bet for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham while he is 14/1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Nicholls said: "He started off late last year so we waited for this year to go chasing.

"He has done loads of schooling and has always jumped well.

"The new two-and-a-half-mile novice chase here at the Grand National meeting will be ideal for him.

"Tidal Bay won this race last year and went on to win the Arkle. He will have an entry in that but the trip might be too short."